Amalia Prairie Marie Hughes

Amalia Prairie Marie Hughes was born one week late (one week is a looooong time). At 2:39 am May 20th she arrived. She was 7 pounds 10 ounces and 20 inches long. We were able to go home the next day and are doing well. She had a 3 day old check up and a weight check at 6 days. She was tested for jaundice but everything came back fine. She's doing well and is almost back up to her birth weight. She is sleeping pretty well for a newborn. We get a few 2-2 1/2 hour stretches at night and my mother is here for about 10 days so that's a big help. Gareth is LOVING her. He's over tired and over stimulated, but doing very well. Eric is sick, some sort of sinus infection or something, but is doing fine. My recovery is going well.

The labor and delivery went very smoothly, though it was a bit more exciting at the end than I anticipated. I started having contractions around 5 pm and by 10 pm decided they weren't going away and were getting stronger so we started timing them. By 1 am I called the doctor to say the contractions weren't even or consistent but were getting stronger. He said to go ahead and pack and come on in. By the time Eric's mom arrived at 2 things had moved pretty quickly and it took Eric some time to get me out of the house. He got us to the hospital in 6 mintues, arriving at 2:30, and she was born 9 minutes later. I wouldn't suggest cutting it that close :)

Elephants

Tonight Gareth and I read an Animal book for his nighttime story. He was telling me all the different animals he knew and what sounds they made. We got to the elephant and he asked me what sound it makes. I told him I did not make a very good elephant noise, that Daddy and Grandma were much better at it (also, with a cold, I didn't think trying was a great idea). I told him they sort of trumpeted. He said "trumpets go do-do-do-doo" in a heraldic sort of way and then informed me that's what elephants say. Just so you know, elephants basically sound like they're announcing the entrance of nobility :)

Various Updates

Gareth giving the baby kisses. It took some convincing for him to not lift up my shirt and kiss my bare skin, which is how he does it at home :)
A picture of Gareth, me and the little one (who's hiding)

Gareth and his new tool belt and tools. It was a Christmas/birthday present that has been in the closet. He got too many toys and we didn't have a place to put them all, so we've been saving some to hand out for the next few months.

We have lost Gareth's last "baby" word. Ga-ga. It means guitar. He now says "got-tar." Much clearer and grown-up. But it made me sad. No more baby Gareth.

On the fun side of growing up, he really enjoys helping do things. He was very eager to help Eric carry in the groceries today, helping carry the box of diapers into his room and such. These are a picture and video clip of him helping Eric build the new shelves for Gareth's (now "the kids'") room.


We got a new, much bigger, shelving unit for one wall and a toddler bed. So now we're all set, furniture wise for the new baby's arrival. We're in pretty good shape for 8 weeks out. Basically we could survive 4-7 days with what we've got (clothes, diapers, car seat, etc.), which makes me feel a lot better. Now I just have to get everything washed, organized and put away. Does nesting hit earlier the second time around? I've been making these mental lists of things I need to clean and organize (like the toaster oven and our DVD collection) because I know once the baby arrives it won't get done for a year.

Here comes the music

Singing the alphabet, minus a few letters.

He just started singing Baa, Baa, Black Sheep today. I forgot that you can't take video longways on my camera. It's probably just as well, he sways for the entire song, which might cause a bit of motion sickness in som.

Here is a song about a fire truck, fire fighters, fire engines and sirens.

This is Take Me Out to the Ball Game. Here are the words he's actually singing:
Take Me Out To Ball Game
Take Me Out Poud
Buy Some ...Cacker Jack
I Carry Never Get Back
Woof, Woof For Home Team
They Win Shame
1, 2, 3 Strikes Out
Old Ball Game




Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star arr. Gareth

The Ball

At the end of February Eric went to a military leadership conference, I got to join him on the second day. Our first overnight without Gareth. He did really well with Grandma, and had much potty training success with her. I enjoyed reading and resting for a day and not changing a diaper for over 24 hours. Eric and I attended the Ball and dinner. We were all dressed up and had a nice time.

This was the formal portrait we had taken at the Ball. It's over-lit and Eric's tie is crooked, so it's not a great representation of how we looked, but you get the idea. Also, I scanned it in at the wrong resolution so it's a weird size. Sorry.

Valentine's Day

For Valentine's Day Gareth and I made these Linzer cookies. I really like the recipe we used. The dough had a little spiciness to it (think spice or gingerbread cookies) to offset the sweetness of the raspberry jelly and the powdered sugar. Gareth helped push down on the cookie cutters and sprinkle the powdered sugar over the cookies. He also helped with eating.

The last month

He's becoming interested in having his picture taken. But timing the "cheese" with the actual picture taking is a nuance that he has not grasped. This is the end of "cheese"

He was having a snack one day as I did dishes in the kitchen (his table is in our living room). I walked in to find him, feet up, snacking :) Note the play-doh on the table. He really enjoys it.

Gareth sleeps all over his crib, but lately he enjoys sleeping across it with his feet sticking out between the slats. We've mostly given up trying to fix this, it just happens too frequently. And he normally fixes it all by himself and goes right back to sleep.


Eric and Gareth playing with some Legos (Duplos)